It is time for the seventh round of the NPL championship, a matchday that many local football fans have been eagerly awaiting since the schedule of this year’s league was announced. Of course, the two derbies of Greek interest are the reason. On Saturday (01.04) night, the local Cannons, who had a successful Wednesday night against Preston Lions (1 – 3) will welcome Hellas at the “blue and white” Oakleigh in a match that has excited the fans of both teams for decades. Both opponents are in very good form and are expected to give their all on the field to secure the three points that will keep them close to Avondale, who will be hosting the tough Melbourne Knights this weekend. The coaches of the two teams do not face any serious problems. Chris Taylor must be particularly pleased to have team captain Joe Guest back at his disposal, whose absence seemed to affect the team’s image. We caught up with the Oakleigh coach to get a comment on the much-anticipated derby against South Melbourne.
“We are both very strong clubs. The history of the matches between us excites the fans as well as the footballers. I hope we can show the competitive face that they have shown in the first six rounds of the championship and, of course, leave our stadium with the three points. South Melbourne has a very strong team; they are second in the standings, and we are third, which gives even more value to Saturday’s game” said the experienced coach.
The other big game takes place on Friday (31.03) at Heidelberg West. Home team Alexandros hosts Nea Hellas. Both teams see the match as an opportunity to continue the positive image they have shown in recent weeks. United is coming off the important win against Pancyprios with 3 – 1 while the “Sharks” are on cloud nine because of the huge away win against Thunder (2 – 6 ) last week.
Pancyprios is going to go all in this Friday night, eagerly looking for a way out of the poor playing situation he has been in since the start of this season. The “greens” welcome St Albans in a match that no one can predict the final outcome. The two teams come from defeats which further strengthens their need to win. The home team will be desperately searching for a victory in order to get their first points of the season, while the “Croatians” want to stay close to the top of the table.
There’s also a “Greek” derby in NPL2 this weekend. Kingston City will welcome Leonidas from Brunswick on Sunday (02.04) evening. The home team is hoping for a win that could potentially put them at the top of the standings, while the visitors will be looking for a positive result to stay close to the leading teams. Iraklis will face an even more difficult task this weekend, as they will be taking on Eastern Lions on Friday. In the NPL3 Championship, Pythagoras will travel to the usually inhospitable Langwarrin to take on the local side. The “Greek” team is aiming for a positive result in order to pocket their first points of the season.
We even have a ‘blue and white’ derby in the State League this weekend, as Malvern City hosts Aris from Springvale. Yarraville also has a tough task this weekend, as they travel to the beautiful Whittlesea to take on the local Ranges.
THE NPL PROGRAM
Friday 31/03
Bentleigh Greens – St Albans Saints 19:30
Heidelberg United – Port Melbourne Sharks 20:30
Saturday 01/04
Moreland City – Hume City 15:00
North Geelong Warriors – Green Gully 15:00
Avondale – Melbourne Knights 15:15
Altona Magic – Dandenong Thunder 18:15
Oakleigh Cannons – South Melbourne 19:30
NPL – Table
1. Avondale 6 16
2. South Melbourne 6 15
3. Oakleigh Cannons 6 14
4. Melbourne Knights 6 11
5. Green Gully 6 9
6. Port Melbourne 6 8
7. Moreland City 6 8
8. St Albans Saints 6 7
9. Dandenong Thunder 6 7
10. Heidelberg United 6 7
11. Hume City 6 6
12. Altona Magic 6 5
13. North Geelong 6 3
14. Bentleigh Greens 6 0
THE NPL2 PROGRAM
Friday 31/03
Brunswick Juventus – Pascoe Vale 20:30
Northcote City – Eastern Lions 20:30
Saturday 01/04
Werribee City – Bulleen Lions 15:00
Langwarrin – Preston Lions 15:00
Manningham United Blues – Western United 15:00
Sunday 02/04
Melbourne City (Y) – Dandenong City 15:00
Kingston City – Brunswick City 16:45
NPL2 – Ladder
1. Langwarrin 6 13
2. Kingston City 6 12
3. Pascoe Vale 6 12
4. Western United (Y) 6 12
5. Preston Lion 6 11
6. Eastern Lions 6 9
7. Manningham 6 8
8. Brunswick City 6 7
9. Brunswick Juventus 6 7
10. Northcote City 4 6
11. Werribee 6 5
12. Dandenong 6 5
13. Melbourne City (Y) 5 4
14. Bulleen 5 3
THE NPL3 PROGRAM
Friday 31/03
North Sunshine Eagles – Caroline Springs George Cross 20:30
Saturday 01/04
Nunawading – Box Hill United 15:00
Goulburn Valley Suns – Doveton 17:00
Geelong – Essendon Royals 18:00
Sunday 02/04
Beaumaris – Boroondara Eagles 15:00
Melbourne Victory (Y) – Ballarat City 15:00
NPL3 – Ladder
1. North Sunshine 2 6
2. Nunawading 2 6
3. Melbourne Victory (Y) 2 6
4. Geelong 2 6
5. Goulburn Suns 2 3
6. Caroline Springs 2 3
7. Beaumaris 2 3
8. Boroondara 2 3
9. Ballarat 2 0
10. Doveton 2 0
11. Box Hill 2 0
12. Essendon 2 0
